Abstract: A device for use in cutting open and removing the seed and flesh of an avocado is disclosed. The device includes a first handle member having a first end and a second end and a second handle member having a first end and a second end. The device also includes a first blade joining the first handle member and the second handle member together at their respective first ends and a second blade coupled to the first handle member and the second handle member at their respective second ends.

Abstract: Devices and methods for use in removing the foliage from stems of leafy vegetables and sprigs of herbs are shown and described. The device has a body that is sized and shaped to fit comfortably into a one hand. The body can be generally flat and can have at least one edge following a convex curve. A trimming blade projects outwardly from at least a portion of the convexly curved edge of the body. A selection of apertures of different sizes extends through the body. The user can select an aperture large enough to allow the stem to pass through, but too small for the foliage to pass through. During use, a user can use the trimming blade to trim off unwanted parts from a sprig of herb or a piece of leafy vegetable, pass the sprig through a selected aperture sized to remove the foliage therefrom, and cut the foliage to the desired size by rocking the trimming blade along its length over the foliage.

Abstract: A lid with a retractable straw for a cup or other fluid container is provided. The device includes a body including a cavity that extends from a bottom surface of the body to an upper surface of the body and a lid positionable between a closed position in which the lid lays on an upper surface of the body and an open position in which the lid is displaced from the upper surface of the body. The device also includes a tube, a straw and a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the tube, the mouthpiece being positionable between a closed position in which the mouthpiece crimps the tube to the bottom surface of the body and an open position in which the tube couples the mouthpiece in fluid communication with the straw.

Abstract: The present disclosure is also directed towards systems and methods for grinding a spice or grain material wherein a mill is comprised of a turn knob, a mill body, and a grind assembly and the turn knob is rotatably and slideably coupled to the mill body and sliding the turn knob relative to the mill body adjusts a grind setting of the mill and rotating the turn knob relative to the mill body grinds or mills the spice or grain material.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and apparatus for grinding spices and grains. One system includes a mill for grinding a spice or grain material, comprising a body and a handle rotatably coupled to the body. The handle is also coupled to an input of a speed boost assembly. An output of the speed boost assembly is coupled to a grind assembly, which includes a rasp. The speed boost assembly is configured to cause the rotational frequency of the rasp to be greater than a rotational frequency of the handle.

Abstract: Devices and methods for use in removing the foliage from stems of leafy vegetables and sprigs of herbs are shown and described. The device has a body that is sized and shaped to fit comfortably into a one hand. The body can be generally flat and can have at least one edge following a convex curve. A trimming blade projects outwardly from at least a portion of the convexly curved edge of the body. A selection of apertures of different sizes extends through the body. The user can select an aperture large enough to allow the stem to pass through, but too small for the foliage to pass through. During use, a user can use the trimming blade to trim off unwanted parts from a sprig of herb or a piece of leafy vegetable, pass the sprig through a selected aperture sized to remove the foliage therefrom, and cut the foliage to the desired size by rocking the trimming blade along its length over the foliage.

Abstract: A handheld food slicer including a first handle having a plurality of elongated fingers, each finger separated from an adjacent finger by a blade receiving slot, a second handle movably coupled to the first handle and a plurality of blade members spaced to align with the blade receiving slots to mate with the fingers to collectively define a food receiving passageway when the first and the second handles are in an expanded configuration in which a distal end of the first handle is at least partially spaced apart from a distal end of the second handle, the fingers of the first handle configured to pass through the food receiving passageway adjacent the blade members as the first and the second handles move from the expanded configuration towards a compressed configuration in which the distal end of each of the first and the second handles is relatively closer to the other.

Abstract: A multiple slicing device includes a frame including a receptacle and a plurality of cutting elements, and a working portion including an activation mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a forcing member. The activation mechanism can include two handles where moving one of the handles toward the other handle collapses the forcing member via the cam mechanism, onto a food item placed in the receptacle between the forcing member and the cutting elements, to efficiently and simultaneously cut or slice the food item into multiple pieces.

Abstract: In one particular embodiment, a basting device incorporates a handle body, having a handle portion and a working portion, and a bristle cartridge removably coupled to the working portion of the handle body. The bristle cartridge has a set of first bristles projecting outwardly from the cartridge in a first direction and a set of second bristles projecting outwardly from the cartridge in a second direction different from the first direction. At least one of the first and second bristles has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the bristle cartridge and the distal end having a slit therein extending from the distal end toward the proximal end. The slit has a width sized to cause fluid to be drawn into the slit through capillary action when the distal end of the bristle is submerged in the fluid.

Abstract: Tongs including a pair of elongated arms coupled together to move between a generally compressed configuration and a generally expanded configuration. The tongs further include a locking mechanism having a frame, a lock member and a spring to bias the lock member away from the frame. The lock member being movably coupled to the frame to move between a first position in which the lock member allows movement of the arms to the expanded configuration and a second position in which the lock member prevents movement of the arms beyond an intermediate configuration between the expanded and compressed configurations.